Summer stroll: Don’t miss Buffalo, N.Y. garden events

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Jan 24, 2014 at 8:07 PMJan 24, 2014 at 8:07 PM

By CR RaeMore Content Now

Even if you are not a “garden person,” you will enjoy the National Garden Festival and Garden Walk in Buffalo, N.Y., this summer. A garden walk is a time when those with creative green thumbs open their backyards for all of us to peek in and check out what is growing. The annual Garden Walk Buffalo is the largest of its kind in the nation and offers almost 400 gardens for visitors to explore throughout the last weekend in July. It is a free event, no tickets required, and garden explorers can climb aboard free shuttles to “garden hop.” The urban gardens are in a variety of Buffalo’s historic neighborhoods, and the tour covers more than a five-mile area.The walk is a fitting ending to the National Garden Festival, somewhat different in the fact that its variety of gardens spans into nearby towns. It allows garden surfers to explore on selected dates beginning in June and going through July. NGF branches out to Lockport, Hamburg, Ken-Ton Gardens, Williamsville and more. More than 90,000 visitors take in the beauty of Buffalo’s neighborhoods during the two popular events. The National Garden Festival also includes motor coach tours, educational opportunities and so much more for the novice or master gardener to enjoy. Even a real go-getter gardener could not see the almost 1,000 gardens available for tour during the summer. As they say in the city, “it is a six-week-long garden party.” Take the time to walk through the trendy neighborhoods where you will find eclectic shops, inventive neighborhood restaurants, history and turn-of-the-century homes. Although the colorful public gardens take part, the best aspect is sitting on the patio talking with the homeowners themselves and tramping through their yards. Those participating love the event and enjoy the tens of thousands of people who drop by to visit through the course of the summer. All the gardeners opening their backyards are happy to have you visit; some serve iced tea and cookies, and some point out their unique gardening techniques such as using the garage roof as a vegetable garden. This garden event is open to any residents in the community who would like to participate and with no prior judging. The Garden Walk also takes in the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Delaware Park in downtown Buffalo. You will find it by the art deco city hall. Most of the gardens are private ones, however as the popularity of the event has increased, so have the amount and kinds of gardens. The walk has seen an increased development of community spaces, corporate gardens and church gardens. Visitors will find gardens of all kinds, including Japanese, Russian and English.A National Garden Festival schedule is available at nationalgardenfestival.com, as well as where to secure maps. Garden Walk Buffalo is July 26 and 27; visit gardenwalkbuffalo.com. Plan ahead, as hotels fill up fast.

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